Fiesta Bowl College Football Insider Week 6

2021 · Week 6 COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 6

Quote of the week “I told the guys in the locker room, you don’t always get what you want, right, like the Rolling Stones say, but sometimes you get what you need.

I think we needed that.”

- Stanford Head Coach David Shaw on the team’s OT win against then No. 3 Oregon

TEAM TO WATCH:

byu

The Cougars have entered the Top 10. After a 34-20 win against rival Utah State on Saturday, BYU is 5-0 and contending for a New Year’s Six Bowl selection.

The Cougars’ offense was dominant on Saturday, despite the absence of several key players – including two quarterbacks – due to injury. BYU scored on four of its first five possessions and never turned the ball over. Running back Tyler Allgeier shined with a career-high 218 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The Cougars’ defense was a pivotal part of the victory as well. The group allowed just 22 rushing yards on the Aggies’ 35 attempts and forced two key turnovers on the first and last drives, beginning and ending the game with a strong defensive stand.

Next up, the Cougars host Boise State on Saturday, Oct. 9. The game will air on ABC with kickoff set for 12:30 p.m. (AZ Time).

TEAM OF THE WEEK:

cincinnati

The Bearcats stormed into South Bend on Saturday and knocked No. 9 Notre Dame out of the Top 10.

With a 24-13 victory, No. 5 Cincinnati improved to 4-0 heading into conference play.

The Bearcats kept the Fighting Irish out of the end zone in the first half, forcing three turnovers while establishing a 17-0 lead. Cincinnati grabbed two interceptions just outside the Irish’s goal line in the first quarter, then recovered a Notre Dame fumble in the second to tack on a field goal.

Second-half mistakes by Cincinnati – a fumble and two missed field goals – allowed Notre Dame to stay in the game. Leading by just four with five minutes left to play, Bearcats QB Desmond Ridder led a strong offensive effort that culminated in a six-yard rushing touchdown. He ended the game with 297 passing yards, 26 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.

Cincinnati will begin American Athletic Conference play on home turf when it faces Temple on Friday, Oct. 8 on ESPN at 4 p.m. (AZ Time).

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 6

games of the week STANFORD AT #22 ASU 10.8 | 7:30 PM | ESPN

#6 OKLAHOMA AT #21 TEXAS 10.9 | 9:00 AM | ABC

AP Week 6 Rankings 1. ALABAMA

6. OKLAHOMA

2. GEORGIA

7. OHIO STATE

3. IOWA

8. OREGON

4. PENN STATE

9. MICHIGAN

5. CINCINNATI

10. BYU

For the full AP Top 25 Rankings, click here.

#2 GEORGIA AT #18 AUBURN

game of the week

10.9 | 12:30 PM | CBS

#4 PENN STATE AT #3 IOWA In the only matchup between undefeated teams this week, the Nittany Lions travel to Kinnick Stadium to face the Hawkeyes.

#9 MICHIGAN AT NEBRASKA

It is predicted to be a close game with Iowa favored to win by

10.9 | 4:30 PM | ABC

Last Saturday, Iowa soundly defeated Maryland on the road,

1.5 points. On the flip side, Penn State has gone 4-1 against the spread this season. The over/under is at 41.

51-14, and the Hawkeyes haven’t won a game by fewer than 10 points. Penn State is also coming off of a sound victory,

#1 ALABAMA AT TEXAS A&M

defeating Indiana 24-0 at home. The Nittany Lions have not

10.9 | 5:00 PM | CBS

defeat their third ranked opponent this season? Either way, one

lost a game since falling to Iowa last November. Will this game be a repeat of last season 41-21 loss? Or will Penn State team will be handed their first loss of the season on Saturday

For a full schedule of Week Six games, click here. (All times in AZ time)

at 1:00 p.m. (AZ Time) on FOX. Fiesta Bowl fans can bet online NOW with Caesars Sportsbook.

Download the app today and place your bets!

2020-21 Bowl PREDICTIONS: PLAYSTATION ® FIESTA BOWL

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ESPN Bonagura – Coastal Carolina vs. Wake Forest

ESPN Bonagura – TCU vs. Purdue

ESPN Schlabach – Arizona State vs. Cincinnati

ESPN Schlabach – Kansas State vs. Nebraska

CBS – Ohio State vs. Cincinnati

CBS – West Virginia vs. Wisconsin

USA Today – Ohio State vs. Cincinnati

USA Today – Texas Tech vs. Purdue

Action Network – BYU vs. Cincinnati

Action Network – Kansas State vs. Minnesota

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 6

SEASON TICKET MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

EDWIN BASL

First year as Season Ticket Member: 2002

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT:

BYRON MURPHY

In the 2017 PlayStation ® Fiesta Bowl, Arizona native Byron Murphy shined on defense as Washington took on Penn State. The defensive back recorded seven tackles, including two for loss (one of them a sack) and a key interception in Penn State’s end zone to keep the Huskies in the game. Murphy’s defensive performance earned him a spot on the Fiesta Bowl’s All-Decade team (games between 2012-19).

This year, Murphy has been a defensive MVP for the Arizona Cardinals. He recorded three tackles in each of his last two games and grabbed interceptions in both, two against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 26 and one on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Why did you become a Season Ticket Member: After our first Fiesta Bowl, we decided to start checking into getting annual seats rather than just getting the luck-of-the-draw tickets. We then started upgrading every year. It took a while, but we now have the best seats ever.

What’s your favorite Fiesta Bowl Memory: Our first special Fiesta Bowl trip was for the Notre Dame-Oregon State University game in 2001.

I went to OSU undergrad and ND for law school, so I expect I was maybe the only “Irish Beaver” there.

Since I couldn’t lose with both of my teams in that game, we had such a great time.

Dream PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl matchup: Notre Dame vs. Oregon What is your favorite PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl game? Notre Dame vs. Oregon

Last week, he returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown to take the lead against the Jaguars, earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. This week, Murphy’s interception prevented a near-touchdown pass from Rams QB Matthew Stafford and helped move the Cardinals to a 4-0 record.

ASU Honors First Fiesta Bowl Team On Friday night, No. 22 ASU will host Stanford during what will be a special night for Arizona football history. During halftime, ASU will honor its 1971 football team that played in the inaugural Fiesta Bowl. The ceremony will also commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the Fiesta Bowl, which was first played at Sun Devil Stadium. Follow the festivities on our social media and learn more about the Fiesta Bowl’s 50 years HERE.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 6

MORE THAN JUST A GAME® CHARITY SPOTLIGHT:

CHILDREN’S CANCER NETWORK

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Volunteer opportunities are now open! The Fiesta Bowl is More Than Just A Game® and that is because of thousands of dedicated volunteers that help host community events throughout the year. In October there are multiple chances to get involved and become a part of the Fiesta Bowl Family. Visit fiestabowl.org/volunteer to sign up for the Arizona Milk Producers Fiesta Bowl Youth Football Clinic, PNC Fiesta Bowl Par 3 Challenge presented by Chapman Automotive, KABOOM! Playground Builds, Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe and game week shifts!

Children’s Cancer Network holds a special place in the heart of Fiesta Bowl Charities. The nonprofit, which works to “support children and families throughout their cancer journey with programs and services designed to provide financial assistance, promote education, encourage healthy lifestyles, and create an awareness of issues related to childhood cancer,” has been awarded three grants from Fiesta Bowl Charites in the last six years.

Most recently, they received $50,000 during the 2020-21 grant cycle for an initiative that is the first of its kind in Arizona. The ‘Let’s Move’ program and activity center will provide a space for pediatric cancer patients to have fun while engaging in much needed physical activity.

To read more about this initiative and the amazing work that Children’s Cancer Network is doing, CLICK HERE.

Follow these four steps to volunteer: 1. Create a volunteer profile through fiestabowl.org/ volunteer 2. Sign the waiver 3. Complete the free background check 4. Sign up for shifts!

If you have questions or need help signing up, contact volunteers@fiestabowl.org.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 6

JA NUA RY 1 , 2022

D E CE M B E R 28, 2021

F I E S TA B O W L . O R G /FIESTABOWL

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 6